Lift web fob packs and harness



S. SWITLIK LIFT WEB FOR PACKS AND HARNESS Filed March 8, 1955 I 15704971257 672225 7 Swi/Zi/E Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claim.

This invention relates to lift webs and particularly their adaptation for use in connection with parachute packs and parachute harness, and the purpose of the invention is to provide, in an improved article of this kind breakable connections between the lift webs and the bottom of the tray of a pack, whereby upon the opening of the parachute and it taking the air, said breakable connections are severed automatically, allowing the tray of the pack to float away, in which event the pack or the tray will not pass up in front of the wearer's face, or will not strike the wearers chin. It is another purpose of the invention to locate the lift webs of the pack relatively close to the center of gravity of the wearer's body, thereby supporting the pack through the medium of compound suspension means in front of the body of the wearer and enabling the lift webs to be easily manipulated, for in turn manipulating shroud cords rendering the parachute steerable.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitative, and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modification of details and proportions may be made in the construction of the appliance according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to -be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a harness, which may be similar to that disclosed in the copending application filed December '7, 1934, Serial No. 756,452, or may be any other type of harness, also showing the tray of the pack partly broken and illustrating the lift webs as extending into the tray and under the parachute.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view ofa conventional type of pack, showing the lift webs as applied thereto through the medium of breakable connections with the bottom of the tray of the pack, said lift webs extending into the tray of the pack and under the parachute.

Referring to the drawing l identifies a harness, which may, as previously stated, be similar to that disclosed in the co-pending application filed December '7, 1934, Serial No. 756,452, and 2 identifies a conventional type of pack including a tray with a parachute 3 packed in said tray and a cover 4 thereover. The tray may be of any well known type or construction. and 4a identifies lift webs. These lift webs each consist of a single strip of webbing folded upon itself, the loop 5 caused to be formed by such folding having a D ring 6. In order to retain the lift webs properly Application March 8, 1935, Serial No. 10,0 7

spaced apart for connection with the tray of the pack, a cross connecting web I is provided. This webbing I is folded upon itself at two portions as identified at 8 causing loops 9 to be formed, through which the lift webs are engaged, the loops 5 of the lift webs being immediately below the loops of the cross connecting web. The intermediate portions of the cross connecting web have their opposed parts stitched together as at ID. The loops of the cross connecting web and where the. 10 lift webs pass therethrough are stitched or tacked temporarily at II. This last named stitching or tacking not only passing through the loops of the cross connecting web but also through the lift webs on the exterior of the pack adjacent the 15 bottom of the tray and through the bottom of the tray and again through the lift webs at the points where the lift webs extend into the tray at l2 under the parachute, which is clearly shown in Figure 1 where the tray is broken away, the lift webs in turn being connected to the usual shroud cords of the parachute.

The purpose of this temporary tacking or breakable connection is to enable the lift webs to easily break away from the pack or tray when the parachute opens and takes the air, allowing the tray to easily float away, in which event it is not possible for the tray at any time to pass up in the front of the face or under the chin of the jumper.

The D rings as will be noted, when applying the pack to the harness are engaged with suitable snap hooks I3, which in turn are connected to loops ll of the harness. In this manner the pack when applied is located substantially close to the center of gravity of the wearer's body, suspended in such position slightly above said center of gravity.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. The combination with a harness and a parachute pack including a tray, of a pair of spaced lift webs having means for suspending the same on the harness, said lift webs located adjacent the exterior of the bottom of the tray of the pack and having their end portions folded over the edge of the tray and into the interior of the tray under the parachute and having their terminals connected to usual shroud cords, and breakable means passing through said lift webs exteriorly and interiorly of the tray through the bottom thereof whereby upon the opening of the pack and the parachute taking the air said breakable means are severed allowing the tray to float away.

2. The combination with a harness and a parachute pack including a tray, of a pair of spaced lift webs having means for suspending the same on the harness, said lift webs located adjacent the exterior of the bottom of the trayof the pack and having their end portions folded over the edge of the tray and into the interior of the tray under the parachute and having their terminals connected to usual shroud cords, andbreakable means passing through said lift webs exteriorly and vinteriorly of the tray through the bottom thereof whereby upon the opening of the pack and the parachute taking the air said breakable means are severed allowing the tray to float away, and a cross connecting web connecting with and holding the lift webs properly spaced in position on the bottom of the parachute pack tray.

3. The combination with a harness and a pack including a tray, of lift webs, each consisting of a length of webbing folded upon itself providing a loop the adjacent portions of the web brought together folded over the tray of the pack and extending into the interior of the tray said loops of the lift webs carrying D rings adapted for connection to parachute suspension means on the harness at a point close to the center of gravity of the wearer's body, and breakable means passing through the lift webs adjacent their loops and through the bottom of the tray and through those loop the adjacent portions of the web brought together folded over the tray of the pack and extending into the interior of the tray, said loops of the lift webs carrying D rings adapted for connection to parachute suspension means on the harness at a point close to the center of gravity of the wearers body, a cross connecting web constructed from a single piece folded upon itself causing loops to be formed at its opposite ends and through said loops the lift webs extend, adjacent portions of the cross connecting web intermediate said loops being fastened together, and breakable means passing through the loops and through the lift webs through the bottom of the tray and thence through those portions of the lift webs which extend interiorly of the tray, whereby upon the pack opening and the parachute taking the air, said breakable means are severed allowing the tray to float away.

STANLEY SWITLIK. 

